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At the end of the footpath to Vadret da Morteratsch, 2070 m.a.s.l.: Rapid retreat of the glacier is illustrated by the sign showing its front in the year 2000 (Panorama taken on 15.8.2002). From 1900 to 2000 the glacier tongue [1] retreated 1870 metres, that is nearly 19 metres per year on average. Retreat was extreme in the exceptionally hot summer of 2003: 76.5 metres. In front of the glacier, basal moraine [2] becomes visible. Different colours on the glacier tongue mark shear planes [3] along which ice from various depths and debris are carried towards the surface. |